Router bit system

ABSTRACT

A router bit system includes a bit (or bits) and a bit holding assembly for attaching the bit to the drive shaft of a router without the use of additional hand tools. The bit holding assembly, which is attached to the drive shaft of the router, includes a chuck having a bore for receiving a shank of the bit. A collar for engaging and releasing the bit from the bit holding assembly slides between a first position for engaging the bit and a second position for releasing the bit. The collar is biased to the first position for engaging the bit. The bit is capable of being received in a standard collet-type bit holder, such as a standard router collet or the like.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/626,842, titled “Router Bit System,” filed Jul. 23, 2003,now pending, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/398,343 filed Jul. 23, 2002. SaidU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/398,343 and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/626/842 are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of routersincluding, but not limited to, hand-held routers, table-mounted routers,pocket cutters, laminate trimmers, rotary cutout tools, and the like,and more particularly to a router bit system including a bit and routerbit holding assembly which allows insertion and removal of the bitwithout the use of tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When changing the bit of a router, it is necessary to use hand toolssuch as wrenches, or the like, in order to provide adequate mechanicaladvantage to safely tighten or loosen the bit within a router collet orthe like. For instance, most routers require the use of a first wrenchto lock a router drive shaft from rotation while a second wrench is usedto loosen a bit attached to the drive shaft. However, it is desirable toquickly attach a bit to a drive shaft or to quickly remove the bit fromthe drive shaft. For example, several router bits may be neededthroughout the course of shaping a single work piece with a hand-heldrouter, and it may be desirable to change between the bits quickly andefficiently. The use of one or more wrenches or like tools for changingbetween the bits is inefficient and thus undesirable in suchapplications, because of the additional time and effort required forattaching and removing the bits to and from the drive shaft via thewrenches.

Additionally, because a collet or the like for engaging the router bitis usually recessed within a shield or shroud, or surrounded by anassembly such as a router table or the like, it may be very difficult toreach the collet and the drive shaft with tools such as wrenches, or thelike, for changing the bit. Another problem may arise when a router bitmust be secured to a drive shaft at a remote location. The absence of awrench or some other suitable device may effectively prevent the removalor replacement of the bit from the drive shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a router bit systemincluding a bit (or bits) and router bit holding assembly for attachingthe bit to the drive shaft of a router without the use of additionalhand tools. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, a bit includes acutting head and a shank having an annular groove formed therein. Therouter bit holding assembly, which may be attached to the drive shaft ofthe router, includes a chuck having a bore for receiving the shank ofthe bit. An opening is radially formed through the chuck for receiving aball which engages the annular groove of the shank when the shank isreceived in the bore. A collar is concentrically disposed about thechuck so that the collar may slide axially between a first position anda second position. The collar moves to the first position for holdingthe ball in engagement with the annular groove and is moved to thesecond position for allowing the ball to be disengaged from the annulargroove. In embodiments of the invention, the collar is biased to thefirst position for causing the ball to engage the bit.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not necessarily restrictive of the invention as claimed. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention andtogether with the general description, serve to explain the principlesof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous advantages of the present invention may be betterunderstood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanyingfigures in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a router bit system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,attached to a router;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the router bit systemillustrated in FIG. 1, wherein a bit is engaged with the bit holdingassembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the router bit systemillustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the bit is released from the bit holdingassembly;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating an exemplary bit of the routerbit system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded isometric view illustrating the bitholding assembly of the router bit system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view illustrating the collar of the router bitsystem illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a pin and a bit routerbit system illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the bit includes a shankhaving a tapered end and a slot for engaging the pin in accordance withexemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevation view illustrating a routerbit system including a Morse taper or the like in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view illustrating a router bit system including acollar lock in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the router bitsystem illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the router bit systemillustrated in FIG. 9, wherein the collar lock is engaged; and

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the router bit systemillustrated in FIG. 9, wherein the collar lock is disengaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 through 12, a router bit system 100 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention isdescribed. The router bit system 100 includes a bit 102 and router bitholding assembly for attaching the bit 102 to the drive shaft 202 of arouter 200 without the use of additional hand tools. In exemplaryembodiments of the invention, the bit 102 includes a cutting head 104and a shank 106 having an annular groove 116 formed therein. The routerbit holding assembly, which is attached to the drive shaft 202 of therouter 200, includes a chuck 110 having a bore 111 for receiving theshank 106 of the bit 102. An opening is radially formed through thechuck 110 for receiving a ball 114 which engages the annular groove 116of the shank 106 when the shank 106 is received in the bore 111. Acollar 112 is concentrically disposed about the chuck 110 so that thecollar 112 may slide axially between a first position and a secondposition. The collar 112 moves to the first position for holding theball 114 in engagement with the annular groove 116 and is moved to thesecond position for allowing the ball 114 to be disengaged from theannular groove 116. In embodiments of the invention, the collar 112 isbiased to the first position for causing the ball 114 to engage the bit102

Referring now to FIG. 1, a router bit system 100 includes a bit androuter bit holding assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention attaches to a drive shaft 202 of a router assembly200 or the like. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, therouter bit system 100 is fixedly attached to the drive shaft 202, forrotating the drive shaft 202 and a bit 102 or the like for materialremoval. For instance, the bit 102 may include a cutting head 104 forshaping a workpiece and a shank 106 removably received by a bit holdingassembly 108, the bit holding assembly 108 being fixedly attached to thedrive shaft 202 for rotating the drive shaft 202 and the bit 102.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 6, the bit holding assembly 108 attached tothe drive shaft 202 includes a chuck 110 having a bore shaped forreceiving the shank 106 of the bit 102 and a collar 112 for alternatelyengaging and releasing the bit 102 from the bit holding assembly 108. Inexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the chuck 110 includesone or more radially formed openings for receiving ball 114 retainedbetween the chuck 110 and the collar 112. The openings are shaped forallowing the ball 114 to extend at least partially into the bore, forengaging an annular groove 116 formed in the shank 106 of the bit 102when the shank 106 is received in the bore. For instance, as illustratedin FIG. 2, in a first position the collar 112 may hold the ball 114 inengagement with the annular groove 116 formed in the shank 106 of thebit 102 for engaging the bit 102 with the bit holding assembly 108; in asecond position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the collar 112 may allow theball 114 to be disengaged from the annular groove 116 formed in theshank 106 of the bit 102 for releasing the bit 102 from the bit holdingassembly 108.

While the ball 114 is shown as spherical in the exemplary embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying figures, those of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that the ball 114 may have a more irregular shape,being ellipsoid or the like, for providing a cam action or the like inengaging the annular groove 116 formed in the shank 106 of the bit 102when the shank 106 is received in the bore. It should also be noted thatthe ball 114 may be formed as the ends of pins, rods, or the like, orattached thereto without departing from the scope and intent of thepresent invention. In an alternative embodiment, pins may be included inangled grooves, such that the pins are tangential to the shank 106 ofthe bit 102 when engaged and are biased for engaging the annular groove116 of the shank 106. Those of ordinary skill in the art will furtherappreciate that the annular groove 116 may be non-continuous, includinga series of one or more indents, detentions, or the like, correspondingto circumferential placement of the balls 114 about the bore. It shouldbe noted that the use of indents, detentions, or the like for beingengaged by the ball 114 when the shank 106 is received in the bore mayrequire alignment of the bit 102 relative to the chuck 110 before thecollar 112 is moved to the first position, for engaging the bit 102 inthe bit holding assembly 108. It should also be noted that while theexemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures show aplurality of balls 114, more or fewer balls may be used withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention; forexample, one ball 114 may be retained between the chuck 110 and thecollar 112 for engaging the annular groove 116.

The collar 112 for engaging and releasing the bit 102 from the bitholding assembly 108 is concentrically coupled with the chuck 110,axially sliding between the first position for holding the balls 114 inengagement with the annular groove 116, and the second position forallowing the balls 114 to be disengaged from the annular groove 116. Inexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the collar 112 iscoupled between a spring assembly such as a compression spring 118 orthe like, and a retaining mechanism such as a retaining collar 120 orthe like. The retaining collar 120 and the compression spring 118 may beconcentrically coupled with the chuck 110, the collar 112 beingcompressed between the retaining collar 120 and the compression spring118. The compression spring 118 serves to bias the collar 112 to thefirst position for holding the balls 114 in engagement with the annulargroove 116 formed in the shank 106 of the bit 102, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Compressing the compression spring 118 and moving the collar 112to the second position allows the balls 114 to be disengaged from theannular groove 116 and biased toward an internal annular tapered groove122 in the collar 112 for releasing the bit 102 from the bit holdingassembly 108, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Those of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that a number of different spring assemblies andretaining mechanisms may be used for biasing and retaining the collar112 without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the shank 106 of thebit 102 includes a tapered end 124 for biasing the balls 114 toward theinternal annular tapered groove 122 in the collar 112 when inserting thebit 102 into the bore of the chuck 110 and the like. The bore of thechuck 110 may also be tapered or the like for receiving the tapered end124 of the bit 102. Additionally, the shank 106 includes a slot 126 orthe like for engaging with a pin 128, a rod, or the like extendingthrough the bore, for at least substantially preventing rotation of theshank 106 within the bore. Alternately, the bore of the chuck 110 or thelike may be formed to engage with the slot 126 or the like in the shank106, for at least substantially preventing rotation of the shank 106within the bore. It should be noted that the bit 102 including thetapered end 124 and the slot 126 is capable of being received in astandard collet-type bit holder, such as a standard router collet or thelike, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.It should also be noted that while the slot 126 is shown centered acrossthe tapered end 124, it may be offset from an axis of the bit 102without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention.Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that theshank 106 of the bit 102 may be shaped to engage the chuck 110 when theshank 106 is received in the bore of the chuck 110 or the like, for atleast substantially preventing rotation of the shank 106 within thebore. For example, the bore of the chuck 110 may have a faceted portion,such as hexagonal, octagonal, or the like, for engaging acorrespondingly faceted portion of the shank 106 of the bit 102. Thefaceted portion may extend the length of the bore and the shank 106, ormerely a portion thereof. Alternately, an elliptical portion, a circularportion having one or more substantially flat sides, or the like may beutilized without departing from the scope and intent of the presentinvention.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the pin 128 and the corresponding slot 126included in the shank 106 of the bit 102 may take many various shapesand forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention. For instance, the pin may be circular as illustrated in FIG.7A, hexagonal as illustrated in FIG. 7B, square as illustrated in FIG.7C, round having a raised or notched portion as illustrated in FIG. 7D,semicircular as illustrated in FIG. 7E, rectangular as illustrated inFIG. 7F, and the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that pins of many various shapes, sizes, and the like may beused. It should also be noted that more than one pin, irregularly shapedpins, and the like may be used for at least substantially preventingrotation of the shank 106 within the bore.

While the shank 106 of the bit 102 may be shaped for engagement with thechuck 110 for at least substantially preventing rotation of the shank106 within the bore of the chuck 110, those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that the balls 114 for engaging the annular groove 116formed in the shank 106 may also serve to at least substantially preventrotation of the shank 106 within the bore. Referring to FIG. 8, a bitholding assembly 108 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention includes a chuck 110 having one or more radiallyformed openings for receiving balls 114 retained between the chuck 110and a collar 112. The openings are shaped for allowing the balls 114 toextend at least partially into a bore of the chuck 110, for engaging anannular groove 116 formed in a shank 106 of a bit 102 when the shank 106is received in the bore, for preventing rotation of the shank 106 withinthe bore of the chuck 110 and preventing the shank 106 from dropping outof the chuck 110. The annular groove 116 may include a Morse taper orthe like for preventing rotation of the shank 106 within the bore.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 12, a bit holding assembly 108 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention includesa collar 112 concentrically coupled with a chuck 110 for engaging andreleasing a bit 102 from the bit holding assembly 108. The collar 112includes a collar lock 130 for engaging the collar 112 with the chuck110, for fixing the axial position of the collar 112 and at leastsubstantially preventing positional adjustment of the collar 112 until apushbutton 132 is moved from an engaged position to a disengagedposition. The engaged position is for fixing the axial position of thecollar 112 and engaging the collar 112 with the chuck 110, and thedisengaged position is for releasing the collar 112 from the chuck 110.For example, the collar lock 130 may be moved to an engaged position forfixing the axial position of the collar 112 with respect to the chuck110 for retaining the ball 114 in engagement with the annular groove116. For instance, the collar lock 130 may include engaging pins 138connected to the pushbutton 132. When the pushbutton 132 is moved to theengaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the engaging pins 138contact the chuck 110 for engaging the collar 112 with the chuck 110.The contact between the engaging pins 138 and the chuck 110 may befrictional or the like for fixing the axial position of the collar 112with respect to the chuck 110. Those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that centripetal force generated by the spinning of a routerdrive shaft or the like connected to the bit holding assembly 108 mayadditionally serve to at least substantially force the engaging pins 138against the collar 110 for engaging the collar 112 with the chuck 110.When the pushbutton 132 is moved to the disengaged position, asillustrated in FIG. 12, the engaging pins 138 disengage the collar 112from the chuck 110. While the exemplary embodiments illustrated in theaccompanying figures includes generally hourglass-shaped engaging pins138, it should be noted that a variety of engaging pins 138 may be usedfor fixing the axial position of the collar 112 and engaging the collar112 with the chuck 110 without departing from the scope and intent ofthe present invention. For example, engaging pins 138 having detentions,indentations, semi-circular indentations, bent portions, and the likemay be used for abutting the chuck 110, fixing the axial position of thecollar 112 and engaging the collar 112 with the chuck 110. It shouldalso be noted that more or fewer engaging pins 138 may be used withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the collar lock 130is biased to the engaged position for preventing unwanted positionaladjustment of the collar 112. Additionally, the collar lock 130 may beat least substantially balanced across an axis of rotation of the bitholding assembly 108 in the engaged position or the like for smooth andefficient operation of the router assembly 200 or the like. In apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, the collar lock 130 maybe biased to the engaged position with a spring 134 compressed betweenthe pushbutton 132 and the collar 112. In further exemplary embodiments,pin springs 136 may compressed between the engaging pins 138 and setscrews 140 threadably connected to the collar 112. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the spring 134 may be used incombination with the pin springs 136, or any other combination thereof.It should be further noted that more or fewer springs may be usedwithout departing from the scope and intent of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a collar lock 130 for acollar 112 concentrically coupled with a chuck 110 may include a twistlock or the like. For instance, the chuck 110 may include a protrusionsuch as a pin or the like for sliding through a generally L-shapedrecessed portion or the like in the collar 112. The collar 112 may betwisted to align the protrusion in the chuck 110 with an axial leg ofthe L-shaped recessed portion for axial positional adjustment of thecollar 112 relative to the chuck 110. The collar 112 may also be twistedto align the protrusion in the chuck 110 with the end of a tangentialleg of the L-shaped recessed portion for at least-substantiallypreventing axial positional adjustment of the collar 112. The L-shapedportion in the collar 112 may be designed to retain the protrusion inthe tangential leg of the L-shaped recessed portion through centripetalforce from the spinning motion of a router drive shaft, a notch, agroove, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat a number of combinations of protrusions and recessed portions maybe used for engaging the collar 112 with the chuck 110 without departingfrom the scope and intent of the present invention.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that while the presentinvention has been disclosed for a router assembly such as a hand-heldrouter, a router table, a pocket cutter, a laminate trimmer, a rotarycutout tool, and the like and uses the term “router,” it is possible touse the (router bit) system of the present invention for otherapplications using a spinning bit (e.g. drills, drill presses, and thelike).

It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the components thereof without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of itsmaterial advantages. The form herein before described being merely anexplanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the followingclaims to encompass and include such changes.

1-53. (canceled)
 54. A router bit system, comprising: a bit including acutting head and a shank, the shank having an annular groove formedtherein; and a router bit holding assembly including: a chuck having abore with a generally cylindrical portion for receiving the shank, thechuck having an opening radially formed in the generally cylindricalportion of the bore; a ball received in the opening for engaging theannular groove of the shank when the shank is received in the bore; acollar concentrically disposed about the chuck, the collar slidingaxially between a first position and a second position, wherein when thecollar is moved to the first position the collar is configured to holdthe ball in engagement with the annular groove and when the collar ismoved to the second position the collar is configured to allow the ballto be disengaged from the annular groove.
 55. The router bit system asclaimed in claim 54, further comprising a spring assembly for biasingthe collar to the first position.
 56. The router bit system as claimedin claim 55, wherein the spring assembly comprises a compression spring,the compression spring being compressed as the collar is moved to thesecond position.
 57. The router bit system as claimed in claim 54,wherein the shank includes a first end and a second end, the first endbeing coupled to the cutting head and the second end being tapered forfacilitating insertion into the bore.
 58. The router bit system asclaimed in claim 57, wherein the bore is configured to receive thesecond end of the shank.
 59. The router bit system as claimed in claim54, wherein the shank includes a first end and a second end, the firstend being coupled to the cutting head and the second end being shapedfor engagement with the chuck when the shank is received in the bore toat least substantially prevent rotation of the shank within the bore 60.The router bit system as claimed in claim 59, wherein the second endcomprises a slot formed therein, and the chuck includes a pin extendingthrough the bore for engaging the slot when the shank is received in thebore.
 61. The router bit system as claimed in claim 54, wherein thecollar comprises an internal annular tapered groove for biasing the ballinwardly within the opening in the chuck when the collar is moved to thefirst position.
 62. A router bit holding assembly for receiving a bitincluding a cutting head and a shank, the shank having an annular grooveformed therein, comprising: a chuck having a bore with a generallycylindrical portion for receiving the shank, the chuck having an openingradially formed in the generally cylindrical portion of the bore; a ballreceived in the opening for engaging the annular groove of the shankwhen the shank is received in the bore; a collar concentrically disposedabout the chuck, the collar sliding axially between a first position anda second position, wherein when the collar is moved to the firstposition the collar is configured to hold the ball in engagement withthe annular groove to at least substantially prevent rotation of theshank within the bore when the chuck is rotated, and when the collar ismoved to the second position the collar is configured to allow the ballto be disengaged from the annular groove.
 63. The router bit holdingassembly as claimed in claim 62, further comprising a spring assemblyfor biasing the collar to the first position.
 64. The router bit holdingassembly as claimed in claim 63, wherein the spring assembly comprises acompression spring, the compression spring being compressed as thecollar is moved to the second position.
 65. The router bit holdingassembly as claimed in claim 62, wherein the bore is configured toreceive a tapered end of the shank.
 66. The router bit holding assemblyas claimed in claim 62, wherein the chuck includes an anti-rotationportion that engages the shank when the shank is received in the bore toat least substantially prevent rotation of the shank within the bore 67.The router bit holding assembly as claimed in claim 66, whereinanti-rotation portion comprises a pin extending through the bore forengaging a slot formed in the shank when the shank is received in thebore.
 68. The router bit holding assembly as claimed in claim 62,wherein the collar comprises an internal annular tapered groove forbiasing the ball inwardly within the opening in the chuck when thecollar is moved to the first position.
 69. The router bit system asclaimed in claim 62, wherein when the collar is moved to the firstposition, the ball at least substantially prevents rotation of the shankwithin the bore when the chuck is rotated.
 70. The router bit system asclaimed in claim 59, wherein the second end comprises a faceted portionand the chuck includes a corresponding faceted portion that engages thefaceted portion of the second end.
 71. The router bit system as claimedin claim 66, wherein the anti-rotation portion comprises a facetedportion that engages a corresponding faceted portion of the shank.